The best is yet to come!

Gift Wrapping & 'trying' to be proactive have consumed me. Christmas decor and laundry have become the best of friends in my house, and my worst enemy.

My routine lately

-Make a list of things to do

-Wash and dry laundry

-stack laundry on the couch & never fold it

-Cross nothing off the list. 

-Sleep

& dream of all that I have to get done, but not doing a thing to execute. 

Christmas Eve Eve- We did our immediate family exchange (Nicks parents, his sister, brother in law, and their kids) His sis made dinner, and hot chocolate. Wrapping paper flying in the air after the last bite was taken and the last sip was swallowed. It's been an on going joke this year about my obsessive gift wrapping. Nicks mother decided to get a little competitive. When she wrapped my gift, if it was in reach, she taped/ glued or tied it to the top of my box. I ended up with an flamless candle (in the on position) a cluster of beautiful greens and pine cones, a really cool Santa ornament, a few glass ornaments, and a plethora or sting and ribbon... This was all outside the actual gift so I scored before I even opened it ;) I guess when I sent my Christmas list to Nick, he forwarded it all to his thoughtful mother. She literally got me everything I asked for. It was wayyy too much. Nick & I planned on exchanging our gifts Christmas morning, so at this point I was thinking to myself, 'if she got me everything I wanted, he must have something tricky up his sleeve'...

Christmas Eve- I'm pretty thankful. Though I do not have a single family member close to me, Nicks family does a great job of making me feel like I'm one of theirs. Dinner at his mamas. Time with the family, and our secret Santa gift exchange. 

Christmas was a hit. The kids played and played. I made breakfast for dinner. It a sweat pants, wool socks, and t-shirt kind of day. Kids had more than enough. Nick was spoiled rotten. I got something from him I never expected;  Two plane tickets to fly home, and see my family in February. Nick, and I have been together for a few years now, and he has yet to meet any of my family. Guess what?! He's going to despite his fear of flying!

I've been a victim to many failed resolutions. I'm making it simple this year. All I want is to..

Everything else will fall in line. 

I'm pretty unorganized, but love to try my best to improve every day. My poor planner is doomed. Thankfully it made it just as long as it was supposed to. Flipping through seeing secret drawings Addison took it upon herself to draw for me when I wasn't looking makes me think about all the good times I've been blessed with this year, but been to bent on the bad to even notice. 2015 is going to be the best year, yet.  Anyway- I research everything. I've been looking for the best planner at the last minute of course, and so far these three are on my mind the very most. I love the Rainbow planner because it's so fun, but it's also so big. I like to tote mine with my in my purse, and I don't have much room for a binder the size of my desktop. The striped two are very similar on the outside, but different on the inside. Times a' ticking I better make a decision. 

I have no idea what my plans are for the night. I didn't go out and buy a special sequin mini skirt. I don't have any crazy hats, or funky glasses. I'm perfectly happy with hanging out at home, and spending some quality time with my babe, watching movies, and folding laundry. I did get the kids some sparklers, and a bottle of grape cider! I hope your last memory of 2014 is one of your best!

Want. Need. Wear. Read.

Addison

Barbie  // Savannah Doll House //  Mooshka Doll  //  Finger Crayons //  Gap Hat

Addison seems to be the easiest of the three. I still see things while shopping for other people that I just know she'll love, but have to focus, and move on. Girls are just so fun, and easy!

    Kellen

The Green Machine  //  Boys Jordans  //  Shaun White Jacket  //  Civil War Book

-What do you want for Christmas this year, Kellen?

-Just family, that's all. 

So, so sweet! I had to force him to make a list, and when he did it never ended.

                                                                     

Peyton

Jordans  //  NBA 2k15  //  Falcons Throwback Shirt  //  Sperrys  //  Falcons Football

Last year, Peyton way the hardest to buy for, and this year he was the easiest, but most expensive. They don't want much as a teenager, but what they do want, comes with a pretty price tag. 

Our Merry kind of Christmas

We have decked our halls, rocked around the Christmas tree, and the stockings are hung, not by the chimney, but defiantly with care. It's been a long time since I've been in the Christmas spirit, but this year I just can't help but to be filled with glee! The house smells of fresh-chopped pine trees, and my tree isn't real! Here's how-Pine Tree Scented Ornaments. I hope your home is filled with hot-chocolate-mustaches, candy canes, and gift wrap galore.

Our Mantle

As you can see we don't have much of a mantle so we had to get creative with our stockings, and hang them using some cute floating shelves. Our advent calender means a lot to us this year. Each day has a riddle written on the back to help the kids find the elf. Whoever finds him first gets a few dollars to put into their jar. A few days before Christmas the kids get to decide weather or not they want to donate their money, or buy a gift for someone other than themselves. It's been a pretty big hit. I'll have a new post shortly all about our quirky elf!

'Maybe Christmas he thought, doesn't come from a store, perhaps, means a little bit more'

Stockings hung with care

I don't have a picture of the floating shelf just yet. Stay tuned!

Gift wrap obsession

I purchased most of these at TJ Maxx! Get some!

Our Shelf Bunnies

These shelf-bunnies are hanging out on the window sill keeping our tree cozy. They were my grandmothers, and my absolute favorite of all the decor in our home. 

This is a story, all about how...

Now this is a story all about how
 my life got flipped turned upside down
and I'd like to take a minute
 just sit right there
 I'll tell you how I fell madly in love with a guy with red hair!

Northern Nevada, born and raised

Then I moved to Georgia in my later days

Chillin' out maxin' all relaxin' all cool

Shooting some photos at a local school

Met a handsome man who was up to no good

looking like my kind of Robin Hood

Gave me one little wink, and I knew he cared

He said your gonna meet parents, ya better be prepared 

My heart skipped a beat it was full of fear!

I ran inside and took a look in the mirror

This was it, my final frontier 

But then I thought na' forget it pass me a beer...

I fell for three children who had a father with a red beard.

 This is to gloat and show the world how in love with this man I am, and even more how how I have fallin' for what most people call 'baggage', I call them the happiest part of my life! Baggage is such an ugly term.  I'm excited for my friends and family be able to see whats going on with such ease. After all, when you live 2300 miles away from your entire family, it's difficult to keep everyone updated, and informed.